Egg exports from Espírito Santo rise amid avian flu crisis

Espírito Santo set a new record for egg exports in the first five months of 2025. From January to May, the state sold US$ 3.6 million worth of eggs, with 1.6 thousand tons shipped, surpassing the cumulative total of the historical series. The data comes from the Data and Analysis Management Office of the State Department of Agriculture (Seag).

The main reason for the surge in exports was the worsening of the avian influenza (H5N1) crisis in the United States, which is facing a domestic shortage and has started importing eggs not only for industrial use but also for direct human consumption.

Egg exports from Espírito Santo
This year, Espírito Santo exported eggs to 25 international destinations, with the United States standing out as the top market. The three main markets were:

United States: US$ 3.5 million, equivalent to R$ 19.29 million (1,573 tons).
Panama: US$ 16 thousand, equivalent to R$ 88.22 thousand (6.3 tons).
Marshall Islands: US$ 14.8 thousand, or R$ 81.7 thousand (5.8 tons).
As a result, the US accounted for more than 97% of the volume and value of exports from the state during the period.

Growth in export value
Compared to the same period in 2024, the increase was significant:
+682% in value (from US$ 461 thousand to US$ 3.6 million).
+370% in volume (from 343 tons to 1,612 tons).
Espírito Santo also outperformed the national average. From January to May, Brazil exported 26.1 thousand tons, totaling US$ 86.1 million. This represents a 35.7% increase in volume and a 25.4% increase in value.

Prepared sector and rising production
State Secretary of Agriculture Enio Bergoli emphasized that the result reflects a combination of increased international demand and the sanitary quality of local production.
“Exports were significantly higher and opened new market opportunities for our poultry farmers, who are the most productive in Brazil,” said Bergoli.
The shift in demand profile was also highlighted by Seag’s project manager, Filipe Barbosa Martins. According to him, the U.S. market began importing eggs for food manufacturing, expanding the potential for consumption.

The executive director of Espírito Santo’s Poultry Association (Aves), Nélio Hand, sees the current situation as a strategic window for producers. “Even if growth slows, volumes should remain high. Espírito Santo intends to stay active in this market,” he said.

Espírito Santo leads egg production in Brazil
According to Aves, in 2024, Espírito Santo produced approximately:
5.2 billion chicken eggs.
1.7 billion quail eggs.

That equals nearly 1,700 eggs per resident per year. The state accounts for 7% of Brazil’s egg production.

The municipality of Santa Maria de Jetibá is the largest producer of both chicken and quail eggs in Brazil. Egg production alone represents 56% of the Gross Value of Agricultural Production in the municipality.

Chile has already recognized Espírito Santo as a Newcastle Disease-free zone, reinforcing the state’s reliability in terms of food safety.

For Nélio Hand, entering new markets requires preparation. “Exporting is not easy, and the costs are high, but Espírito Santo is ready to remain competitive and expand its global presence,” Hand concluded.

Source: Folha Vitória

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